I looked this up and found nothing like this: so my idea is that when you add air intakes it increases cooling and air flow, and when you add exhausts it does the same, also for later in the game when you add electric motors and such you could put solar panels on it to extend battery life, maybe adding a spoiler or a lip increases downforce. Also awesome game it is the first game I’ve ever seen that has the functions that this game does, I love indie developers because they actually make time for their consumers.
All of that actually works, except for the solar panels idea, and the exhausts, which are already covered by the engine designer.